Shares extended a global rise on Wednesday following data indicating the US economy remained resilient, with South Korean equities and the won standing out as the election of a new president ended months of political paralysis.

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index ended the day up 141.54 points, or 0.6 percent, at 23,654.03

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 0.67 percent to end at 8,576.75 while the Hang Seng Tech Index rose 0.57 percent to end at 5,219.02.

In the mainland, Chinese stocks closed higher, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.42 percent to 3,376.20.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.87 percent higher at 10,144.58

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 1.11 percent to close at 2,024.93.

Speculation that President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, will speak this week stoked optimism for a soothing of US-China tensions, though Trump indicated in a social media post his counterpart was "hard to make a deal with".

The US leader's ramped-up tariffs on aluminium and steel imports – announced on Friday – kicked in on Wednesday, highlighting the uncertainty caused by the White House's off-the-cuff policies.

Traders in Asia took the baton from a positive Wall Street, where all three main indices were lifted by data showing US job openings unexpectedly rose in April, calming worries about the impact of Trump's tariff blitz on the world's number one economy.

In Seoul, South Korean shares ended the day at their highest levels in 10 months, as liberal presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's election victory raised hopes of swift economic stimulus policies and market reforms.

The benchmark Kospi jumped 2.66 percent to 2,770.84, posting its biggest daily gain in nearly two months and closing at the highest level since August 1, 2024.

Japanese stocks snapped a three-session skid after the yen weakened and hopes rose for a potential Sino-US trade deal that could reopen the technology markets with China.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Index closed 0.8 percent higher, while the broader Topix added 0.5 percent.

Gainers outnumbered decliners on the Nikkei, with 138 stocks advancing versus 82 ending in the red. (AFP/Xinhua)